ArmInfo.Freedom House also urges the Armenian Prime Minister to take the concerns of the media seriously and leverage direct communication channels including through open and transparent press-conferences to ensure a healthy functioning democracy, reads a Twitter message by Freedom House.
The Armenian authorities should support the independent media and civil society by maintaining an active dialogue with them and the people to counteract disinformation that poses threat to Armenian democracy around crucial topics for the country.
Freedom House welcomes the decriminalization of "grave insults" in Armenia and the government's commitment to broad consultation on media legislation reflected in a Memorandum of Cooperation signed between the Armenian Government and CSOs. https://moj.am/storage/uploads/11M.pdf
At a discussion chaired by Armenia's premier, representatives of government agencies decided to abolish criminal responsibility for great insult, with only administrative responsibility.
"The Criminal Code that will be enforced on July 1, 2022, will not impose punishment for great insult," he wrote. Minister of Justice Karen Andreasyan added that the criminal responsibility was prescribed by the law to "prevent outrageous and inadmissible behavior of individuals and groups amid profound social polarization."
"The government considers inadvisable to include an article on great insult in the new Criminal Code and prefers the civil liability norms in effect," the minister added.
However, it does not mean derogatory remarks about people will not be punished. Those abusing the freedom of speech will be fined up to AMD 3mln.
